New York Republican Representative Mike Lawler reiterated his disapproval of former President Donald Trump’s recent social media post, which contained a racist animation depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. During an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” with co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Lawler expressed that in public discourse, a simple apology can sometimes be the most effective response.
Lawler was one of the first Republicans to voice criticism of Trump’s post on Friday. He stated that he believes the White House’s explanation that the post was an error made by a staff member. Additionally, he described the individual who originally created the meme as “an idiot.” However, when questioned on Friday about whether he would apologize for the video, Trump told reporters that he would not.
No, I didn’t make a mistake. I mean, I look at a lot of — thousands of things,” Trump said. “And I looked at the beginning of it, it was fine.”
Trump further responded to questions about the racist content of the video by stating, “Of course I do.” The controversial post initially included unfounded conspiracies about the 2020 election before abruptly presenting the Obamas’ faces on the bodies of apes, accompanied by the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed the backlash as “fake outrage,” but the White House later attributed the post to a staffer’s mistake and removed it about 12 hours later.
GOP Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, typically a strong supporter of Trump, quickly condemned the post, calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” Lawler acknowledged Scott’s prompt response, stating that Scott’s reaction was not “fake outrage.”
Lawler noted, “I think the vast majority of Americans recognize that that type of imagery, and trying to, you know, compare the first Black president to a gorilla or a monkey is insensitive, it’s offensive, it’s racist.” He emphasized, “Whether it was intentional or a mistake, the fact is it’s wrong. And we should all just be able to acknowledge that and move forward.”
On Infrastructure Projects and Naming Proposals
In his interview, Lawler also addressed reports that Trump offered to unfreeze $16 billion in funding for a significant infrastructure initiative in New York and New Jersey if Senate Leader Chuck Schumer supported the idea of renaming Penn Station and Dulles International Airport after Trump.
Karl: We learned that President Trump told Chuck Schumer, the Senate leader, that he would be willing to unfreeze $16 billion in funding for a major infrastructure project in New York and New Jersey if the president — if Schumer were willing to endorse the idea of renaming Penn Station — and, by the way, Dulles Airport — after Donald Trump. How is that OK?
Lawler: I have been against freezing the funds. But how did we get here? Chuck Schumer decided last fall to shut the government down for 43 days.
Lawler expressed his disapproval of freezing the funds, focusing instead on the importance of completing the infrastructure project. He conveyed a pragmatic stance, stating that the names of buildings are secondary to ensuring that critical projects reach fruition.
On Bipartisan Immigration Solutions
Lawler discussed his views on immigration, emphasizing the need for a bipartisan approach to resolving the crisis. Highlighting public frustration with the situation at the U.S. southern border during the Biden administration, he noted that millions of migrants crossed the border, many without authorization.
Lawler pointed out President Trump’s efforts to secure the border and emphasized recent decreases in illegal crossings. He advocated for a legal pathway, distinct from citizenship, for undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for extended periods. This path would involve legal work status, tax obligations, and adherence to the Dignity Act’s conditions, aiming to provide a practical, long-term solution to the immigration issue.
Lawler concluded that while deporting all undocumented individuals is unrealistic, establishing a viable legal framework can address the concerns of the 25 million undocumented residents currently in the country.
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